US influencer deported after promoting Bali as pandemic haven
An American influencer who ignited a social media storm over perceived western privilege after promoting Bali as an LGBT-friendly haven to wait out the coronavirus pandemic is to be deported from Indonesia.
In a series of viral tweets over the weekend, Kristen Gray described how she and her girlfriend, Saundra Alexander, had been enjoying a low-cost lifestyle in the tourist paradise of Bali since they arrived early last year, describing the island as the “perfect medicine” for a prolonged escape from the pandemic back home.
“This island has been amazing because of our elevated lifestyle at much lower cost of living. I was paying $1,300 for my LA studio. Now I have a treehouse for $400,” she tweeted, along with a picture of her new beautiful home.
“Being a digital nomad is everything. I was able to successfully transition my graphic design business on road.”
Among the advantages of living in Bali she listed “luxury lifestyle” and “queer friendly,” before promoting the sale of a $30 e-book, Our Bali Life Is Yours, that the couple wrote to help others move to the country.
The Twitter thread sparked an immediate backlash, with irritated Indonesian social media users alleging Ms Gray was cheating the system by dodging taxes, and accusing her of exploiting her privilege to create gentrification and displaying an apparent lack of cultural awareness.
While Bali’s laid-back vibe has always been popular with western travellers, it is situated in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, where the LGBT community has for years been marginalised, targeted by police raids and sometimes violently attacked.
The uproar caught the attention of the authorities and the immigration office summoned Ms Gray for questioning on Tuesday.
In a statement it said she may have violated several immigration laws, including by spreading information that could disturb the public, such as suggesting that Bali was "queer friendly" and easily accessible to foreigners amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
I Putu Surya Dharma, a spokesman for Bali's Law and Human Rights agency, told Reuters that she was currently being held at an immigration detention facility until a flight back to the US was available. Her lawyer said Ms Gray had a social cultural visa that was valid until January 24.
Officials said they were also investigating whether Ms Gray had violated Indonesian law by carrying out business activities through the sale of her e-book.
Ms Gray told reporters after immigration officials announced her deportation that “I am not guilty. I have not overstayed my visa. I am not making money in Indonesian rupiah. I put out a statement about LGBT and I am deported because I am LGBT.”
Indonesia has temporarily restricted foreign arrivals since January 1 as it struggles to stop the spread of Covid-19. January is on track to be the deadliest month of the pandemic so far for the Southeast Asian nation, with 4,452 people dying from the virus in the first 19 days of the year.
Elsewhere in Bali, foreigners caught not wearing compulsory face masks have been subject to an unusual punishment: push-ups.
Video footage circulating on social media this week shows tourists in T-shirts and shorts being made to do the exercise in sweltering tropical heat as masked security officials stood over them.
Most caught without a mask have agreed to pay a fine of 100,000 rupiah ($7). But those who said they did not have the cash were asked to do up to 50 push-ups if they were not wearing one at all, or just 15 if they were wearing it improperly, according to a security official.
